Kids run over by settler leader questioned

Police detain two of children caught on tape hurling stones at car of David Be'eri before being run over. Silwan man who threw stones in same incident indicted

Ynet reporters |Last update: 10.17.10 , 13:38

The police on Sunday detained for questioning two children documented hurling stones
at the car of the chairman of an association working to settle Jews in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan.

The father of Amran Mansour, 12.5, told Ynet that police officers had arrived at his home at 5:30 am. "They took him in for questioning at the Russian Compound, accusing him of throwing stones and hiding his face," the father said. He added that the investigators clarified that Amran would be brought before a judge.

Knesset's State Control Committee members get rude welcome while touring east Jerusalem neighborhood; Internal Security Minister also visits area at same time, vows to put end to stone-throwing incidents

"They told us to prepare 2,000 shekels (about $560), apparently because he is supposed to be released on bail," he said.

Mansour was released on bail on Sunday afternoon and placed under house arrest for two weeks. He will be allowed to attend school during that period.

The child's lawyer, Mahmoud Muhammad, complained to the court about the arrest. "He was taken to the station illegally. This is serious injustice – instead of prosecuting the hitting driver, the police arrest this young boy."

Following his son's release, the boy's father said his son was "mentally hurt and his self-confidence has gone down. He's afraid to walk on the street alone. I have nothing to say about the decision, because it's a decision made by the Israeli legal system and I cannot intervene."

The father rejected the claim that his son took part in a planned ambush. "My son is a 12-year-old boy. He's just a kid."

According to Silwan residents, the arrest was aimed at intimidating the children and their families and preventing them from attending protests against Jews settling in the area.

Mansour, who was documented being run over by Be'eri, was hospitalized after the incident and denied hurling the stones. "I had just come out from the Friday prayer at the neighborhood's protest tent when I saw a car driving straight towards me," he claimed.

Amran Mansour in hospital

Meanwhile Sunday, a Silwan resident was indicted Sunday for hurling stones at the car, belonging to Elad Chairman David Be'eri.

According to the indictment – filed with the Jerusalem District Court against 21-year-old Muhammad Sharaf – Be'eri was travelling in the neighborhood with his 14-year-old son. As he reached a main junction, several young men – some of them veiled - began throwing stones at the car,

The indictment added that "As David Be'eri increased the speed, in an attempt to avoid the stone throwers, the defendant threw a stone at the car, strongly." As a result, the car's rear and side windowpanes were smashed, the windshield was cracked and the car's hood and doors were damaged.

According to the State Prosecutor's Office, Sharaf threw the stones with intention of hurting Be'eri and putting his life in danger. The court was asked to extend his remand until the completion of the legal proceedings.

A police official said Sunday that the investigation against Be'eri on suspicion of running over the children has yet to be completed.